Wheel chair width control



Feb. 25, 1958 M. A. LERMAN 2,824,597

WHEEL CHAIR WIDTH CONTROL Filed March 1, 1954 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR 30 Jim/P05 40mm MIA 14A! ATTORNEY M. A. LERMAN WHEEL CHAIRWIDTH CONTROL Feb. 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1', 1954INVENTOR //404/FOE 2%?040 445F444 ATTORNEY United States Patent WHEELCHAIR WIDTH CONTROL Monroe Arnold Lerman, Sunnyside, N. Y.

Application March 1, 1954, Serial No. 413,055

2 Claims. (Cl. 155-30) The present invention relates, to the art ofcollapsible wheel chairs and particularly concerns a novel means forcontrolling the width of such chairs.

' -A particular difiiculty confronting the user of a wheel chair ofcollapsible type is that the width of such a chair is often too great toallow the chair to be driven or ridden through narrow doorways,passageways, and the like. It is often very necessary that a wheel chairoccupied by a rider be narrowed in width while the rider is in the thechair and without interfering with the forward movement of the chair.The present invention is directed to solving these difficulties. Adevice is provided which may be installed in a collapsible wheel chairwhich device may be readily operated while a rider is in the chair tonarrow the chair to a predetermined width. The device can be operated byeither the rider of the chair or some person in attendance.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device forcontrolling the width of a wheel chair.

It is a further object to provide a chair width controlling device whichcan be installed in a wheel chair without changing any existingstructure thereof.

It is a further object to provide a wheel chair width control devicewhich can be operated while the chair is occupied by a rider thereof,without interfering with forward movement of the chair.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a widthcontrol chair of the character described which includes a motor drivefor propelling or driving the chair. This feature of the invention mayalso be applied to collapsible wheel chairs without the width controlherein described and claimed. An important aspect of the'motor driveherein described is the braking feature which is incorporated thereinand more particu larly. in its speed reduction gear train. There is nobrake in this mechanism in the usual sense of the word. Instead, abraking effect is produced in the gear train when the circuit to theelectric motor which drives the same is tion that what is providedherein is simply a conventional D; C. motor used for engine startingpurposes in motor vehicles and included is the speed reducing gear trainof such motors.

. Another feature of the invention is the'provision of a storage batteryon the wheel chair to power the motor and an'electric charging devicefor recharging the battery. The charging device is also mounted on thewheel chair and it may beplugged into a conventional outlet orreceptaclein orderto charge the battery.

:- Qtherand :further objects and advantages of the inice vention willbecome readily apparent from the following description taken togetherwith the drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a wheel chair in which has been mounteda device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of certain operative members ofthe device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1, but showing the electricmotor drive which powers the chair.

Fig. 4 is a back view of the chair, showing it in partly foldedcondition.

Fig. 5 is a partly sectional fragmentary view showing the motor drivemechanism herein described for driving the wheel chair.

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram thereof.

In Fig. 1 is shown a wheel chair having a collapsible seat 10 and back11. A pair of seat supporting frame members 12, 12 are pivotally joinedto the upper ends of scissor frame members 14, 14' which are joined tothe side frame members 13, 13. Frame members 13, 13' are supported inturn by the wheels 16, 17 of the chair. To reduce the width of the chairit is necessary that either one of the frame members 12, 12' be movedupwardly with respect to frame members 13, 13' to close the framemembers 14, 14' in scissor-like fashion. The device embodying theinvention provides a convenient and efficient means for accomplishingthis movement even while the chair is occupied by a rider, and it may beoperated by the rider or an attendant as desired.

The device includes a handle 18 which has a rearwardly bent portion orarm 19 terminating in a generally U-shaped section 20. The handle pivotsat a point located near the apex of the U-shaped section on a bolt 25.Bolt 25 passes through an aperture 31 in the U- shaped section of thehandle and through the arms 26 of bracket 27 as shown best in Fig. 2.Bracket 27 is secured to the chair frame member 13 by clamping arms 28carrying a threaded bolt 29 and nut 30. The shorter end 21 of theU-shaped handle section 29 has a plurality of apertures 22, 23. One endof a bent pivot rod 24 fits into one of the apertures. A cotter pin 35or the like prevents rod 24 from slipping out of the aperture 22 or 23in which it is engaged. The other end of the bent rod 24 is lodged ortelescoped in the hollow post 36 which has an eye termination 37. Aclamp 38 is secured to frame member 12 by threaded bolt 39 which alsoengages the eye termination of the post 36. A nut 40 is threaded on bolt39. A locking pin 41 is mounted in the arm rest 42 for a purposehereinafter described.

In operation, the occupant of the chair or an attendant moves the handleforward from position A to the dotted line position B and locks thehandle there in front of pin 41. As the handle moves forward it pivotson bolt 25. A powerful leverage or force is exerted on post 36 becausethe length of handle 18 including portion 19 is many times greater thanthe distance from rod 24 to bolt 25, the effective length of the end 21of the handle. Post 36 is thus forced upwardly which in turn raisesframe member 12 causing the frame members 14, 14 to close somewhat andreducing the width of the chair.

A particular advantage of the device embodying the invention is thefacility with which it may be installed on a collapsible wheel chair ofconventional tubular frame structure. To install the device, the bracket27 is placed on frame member 30. The handle 18 is then anchored to thebracket 27 by means of bolt 25 and an associated nut (not shown).Bracket 27 is then located on frame member 13 to locate handle 18 at itsfarthest rear position. A guide rail 43 for confining movement of thehandle to a fixed path may if desired be attached to the arm rest 42 orto the chair frame. The guide rail prevents handle 18 from contactingwheel 16. Clamp 38 is then mounted on frame member 12 directly in frontof the point of attachment of frame member 14 to frame member 12. Post36 is then attached to the clamp 38 by bolt 3? and nut 37. Rod 24 isthen inserted telescopically into the lower end of post 36 and the freeendof the rod is secured in aperture 22 or 23 of the free end portion 21of the handle. Aperture 22 if used will provide greater leverage thanaperture 23 since it is closer to the bolt 25 which acts as a fulcrumfor the leverage exerted by the handle. The cotter pin 35 is inserted inthe apertured end of rod 24 to hold the rod in the selected aperture ofthe handle end 21. The amount by which the frame member 12 is raisedwith respect to the frame member 13 and consequently the amount thechair will be narrowed depends on the overall length of post 36 and theassociated portion of rod 24. The length of post 36 and rod 24 shouldtherefore be made sufficient to accomplish narrowing of the chair apredetermined maximum amount. When the amount of chair width control isdetermined by moving handle 18 to-a forward position, the locking pinshould be inserted in arm rest 42 so that it contacts the back edge ofthe handle in that forward position. When the handle is placed in theforward position where it is locked by pin 41, free use of the arms ofthe occupant of the chair is obtained to operate the wheels of the chairand to move it as required.

Referring now to the motorized wheel chair shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 ofthe drawing, it will be understood that the wheel chair construction asshown in the first two figures of the drawing remains the same andcorresponding parts will have corresponding reference characters. Itwill be noted that extending across frame members 13 and 13' aretelescopic tubes 80 and 81. There are two such sets of telescopic tubes,one in front of the other and both occupying parallel lines extendingtransversely across the wheel chair. Tubes 81 project into tubes 80 andthese tubes are free to telescope inwardly and outwardly, depending uponwhether the chair is to be narrowed or widened in accordance with theprocedure above described. Mounted on tubes 80 is a box 56 containing anelectric motor 82. This electric motor is a D. C. motor of the kind usedfor starting the gasoline engines of conventional automobiles and othersimilar motor vehicles. A worm 83 is secured to the motor shaft and aworm wheel 84 engages said worm. Worm wheel L 84 is secured to a shaft85 which is journaled into bearings 86 and 87 supported by the sides ofbox 56. Also secured to shaft 85 is a gear wheel or sprocket 61 whichengages a gear chain 62. Gear chain 62 engages a second gear wheel orsprocket 63 which is secured to the shaft or axle 64 of wheel 16 of thechair. When the motor is eneregized, worm 33 drives worm wheel 84 which,in turn, turns shaft 85 and sprocket 61. This causes chain 62 to turnsprocket 63 and thereby to turn wheel 16. When the current to said motoris cut off, the

motor slows down and then stops. Any momentum which the wheel chair mayhave developed while being driven by said motor will act throughsprocket 63, chain 62, sprocket 61, shaft 85 and worm wheel 84 againstworm 83 and consequently a braking action will result since the wormwheel cannot turn the worm and as soon as the motor stops rotating sowill the worm and all of the other above mentioned elements connectedtherewith.

To power the motor, one or more storage batteries may be provided in abox or receptacle 55 mounted on box 56. These storage batteries maysimply be of the type used in automobiles to power starting motors andalso for ignition purposes. These storage batteries may be of the six ortwelve volt variety and of course the motor would similarly be a six ortwelve volt motor but this is purely illustrative and not limitative ofthis feature of the invention. It has'been found that a six volt batteryhaving a one hundred and twenty ampere-hour capacity, operating inconjunction with a six volt D. C.

iii

automobile starting motor, function extremely well in connection withthis invention.

A convenient and very desirable feature of the present invention is theprovision of an electric charger 57 which is supported by box 56.Conductors 58 and 59 are connected to said charger 57 for connecting thesame to a suitable source of electric current, such as a conventionaloutlet or receptacle in the home. The charger may be connected to thestorage batteries in conventional manner to charge or recharge them.

It will be observed that a spring-urged push button 50 is provided atthe upper end of frame member 51. This push button is connected to thecircuit which connects the storage battery to the electric motor. Itwill be noted in the circuit diagram that switch 54 is provided whichpush button 50 actuates in order to close the circuit between thebattery and the motor. When the push button is released, the switchopens and breaks the circuit and the motor slows down to a full stop andthereby brakes the chair to a halt.

A motorized wheel chair must be provided with steering gear and thewheel chair shown in Fig. 3 is so provided. It will be observed that oneof the caster wheels 17 is connected to a steering rod 52 having ahandle 52a at its upper end. Handle 52 and said wheel 17 swivelintegrally with each other in a bracket 53 which is secured to the frameof the chair. Consequently, when handle 52 is turned either to the rightor to the left by the person sitting in the chair, the chair will besteered in a corresponding direction.

The foregoing is ilustrative of preferred forms of this invention and itwill be understood that these preferred forms may be modified and otherforms may be provided within the broad spirit of the invention and thebroad scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a collapsible wheel chair having a pair of side frames joined bypivotally connected frame members, said frame members being pivotallymovable toward each other to bring the side frames toward each other andthereby to narrow the wheel chair, the improvement comprising arelatively long handle which is pivotally connected to one of said sideframes at the lower end of the handle, and at a lower portion of saidside frame, the upper end of the handle extending upwardly to a positionwhere it can readily be grasped by an occupant of the chair, the pivotalaxis of said handle being transverse to the chair and the handle beingmovable by the occupant of the chair in a generally vertical planegenerally parallel to the side frame to which it is pivotally connected,a laterally extending arm formed at the lower end of said handle, saidarm being relatively short and said handle being relatively long whencompared with the length of said arm, and a post pivotally secured atits upper end to one of said frame members and pivotally secured at itslower end to said arm, whereby the handle may be moved about its pivotalaxis to cause its said arm to move the post and thereby to move theframe member and to change the width of the chair, said post consistingof a pair of telescopically connected members, one being pivotallyconnected to the arm of the handle and the other being pivotallyconnected to said last mentioned frame member, and a stop memberprovided between said telescopically connected members to preventtelescoping beyond a predetermined limit when said telescopicallyconnected members are moved inwardly toward each other.

2. In a collapsible wheel chair having a pair of side frame membersconnected by a scissor frame for lateral movement toward and away fromeach other and seat supporting frames on said scissor frame, saidscissor frame being adapted to move the side framemembers toward eachother to narrow the wheel chair when the seat supporting frames aremoved upwardly, the combination of: a bracket secured to one of saidside frame members; an

upwardly extending handle having a rearwardly extending arm at its lowerend, a pivotal connection between said arm and said bracket forpivotally supporting said handle, a second bracket secured to one ofsaid seat supporting frames, a vertically extending post, the lower endof said post being pivotally connected to said arm a spaced distancefrom the pivotal connection between said arm and the first mentionedbracket, the upper end of said post being pivotally connected to saidsecond bracket, whereby forward movement of the handle on said firstmentioned pivotal connection causes its said arm to elevate the post andthereby to raise the seat supporting frame to which the post ispivotally connected by means of the second bracket, thereby causing thescissor frame to move the side frame members toward each other to narrowthe wheel chair, a guide rail carried by the side frame member on whichsaid handle is pivotally supported for con- References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 222,210 Steves Dec. 2, 18791,235,973 Heid Aug. 7, 1917 1,882,315 Clayton Oct. 11, 1932 2,222,904Heaslet Nov. 26, 1940 2,482,203 Peterson et a1 Sept. 20, 1949 2,485,016Rideout Oct. 18, 1949 2,641,306 Lerman June 9, 1953 2,669,289 Usher Feb.16, 1954 2,676,643 Miller et al. Apr. 27, 1954

